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This episode delves into a unique synthesis of Nietzsche, Cassirer, and Wittgenstein's distinct yet converging theories of language. It examines Nietzsche's view of language as a tool for social command and hierarchy, Cassirer's concept of man as a symbolic animal whose language shapes reality through metaphorical transference and objectification, and Wittgenstein's idea of language-games embedded in diverse forms of life. The discussion highlights how language, originating from creative, even "magical" processes, serves practical communal functions and structures our understanding of the world, while also acknowledging the profound limits of what language can express, pointing towards a "world of silence" beyond words.
In this episode, we're venturing into the life and thought of Ernst Cassirer, the last humanist of the Enlightenment tradition. Cassirer is widely known today for his debate with Heidegger at Davos, in which Cassirer appeared as the old style philosopher against the new world signified by Heidegger's radical existentialism. And yet, the very fact that this debate was taking as symbolic of the broader trends in philosophy is in some sense a vindication of Cassirer, who believed that mankind was p...
This is an audio version of the first two sections of a planned series of political writings, gathered under the name Antipolitik: I. The Birth of the State at the End of Warre, and II. Anti-Schmitt. I've grouped them under the name Anti-Schmitt because these two sections form a polemical unity, against the philosophy of Carl Schmitt and his friend-enemy distinction. Enjoy!
I spoke with Nick Nielsen (Geopolicraticus), who publishes a regular newsletter, and the series, Today in the Philosophy of History. We discussed Augustine's theory of history; the differing views of history of Hegel and Schopenhauer; the Renaissance and the Reformation; textual gaps in the Middle Ages; Nietzsche's "On the Use and Abuse of History for Life"; Nietzsche & Machiavelli as the monumental role models of our time; ideographic versus nomothetic knowledge; Peter Turchin's Cliodynamic...
Chris joined me for a conversation on Friedrich Schelling & German Idealism! In spite of his prominence, Schelling tends to be underdiscussed in popular philosophy circles when it comes to the German Idealist tradition. In this episode, we talk about his essay Philosophical Inquiries into the Essence of Human Freedom, the dialectic of potencies that develops out of nature-philosophy, and the relation of Schelling's ideas to those of his school friends at Tubingen - two gentlemen you may or m...
In our continuation of Wittgenstein's Philosophical Investigations, we'll discuss Wittgenstein's arguments against the possibility of a private language, which culminates in the position that all subjective experiences of sensations are not communicable. Thus, language must be doing something else, other than communicating inner experiences, with its words that seem to refer to these experiences. Of particular interest to Wittgenstein is the communication of pain, and sense perceptions. Finally,...
This episode delves into the life and philosophical journey of Ludwig Wittgenstein, particularly focusing on his groundbreaking work, "Philosophical Investigations." It contrasts his early "picture theory" of language with his later concept of "language-games," arguing that meaning is determined by use within specific contexts and forms of life, rather than by a fixed correspondence to objects. The discussion challenges the philosophical impulse for exact definitions and highlights the mystical side of Wittgenstein, ultimately suggesting that philosophy's role is to describe language as it is actually used, bringing words back from metaphysics to their everyday functions.
Joe Folley joins to discuss Albert Camus's absurdism in response to the death of God, comparing it with Nietzsche's revaluation of values. The conversation delves into Camus's concept of rebellion against meaninglessness, his methodological doubt, and his later emphasis on communal revolt over solitary defiance. They also explore philosophy's quest for consolation, the influence of Stoicism and Schopenhauer, and Camus's profound distrust of absolute certainties in both existential and epistemological contexts.
The longest Q&A so far! The beginning has a number of Patreon updates, most of which involve things that have already transpired on the podcast. If you want to be involved with asking Q&A questions, or voting in polls to decide future material for the podcast, join the Patreon!
In Marcus Tullius Cicero's Tusculan Disputations, he cites a story of Pythagoras, the man who created the term, "philosopher". His description of the philosopher is as one who comes into life not as a competitor, not in the pursuit of money or fame - but merely as a spectator, who observes and inquires into the nature of things. According to Pythagoras, this way of life is the best, by far; Cicero wholeheartedly embraces this way of understanding philosophy, as part of his consolatory project in...
There is nothing new under the sun: it was here, already, long ago. It was here before our time. This much must be said of the ancient skeptics, who put forward perspectival, relativistic, and moral anti-realist arguments during the Hellenistic age. The central figure is Pyrrho of Elis, who is only known through secondary sources, and whose life is surrounded by a number of fascinating anecdotes which speak to an of image life guided by indifference and the pursuit of ataraxia. In this episode, ...
Devin (Left Nietzschean) joined me to discuss the underlying philosophical themes of Star Trek, including a potential affinity with Nietzsche as regards the need for self-overcoming as opposed to utopia; the idea of moral "perfectionism", interpreted through "Schopenhauer as Educator"; interpreting the political positions and critiques of the show in their cultural context, as regards the significance of the Federation, Borg, and Dominion; the distinctive traits of each captain in classic Trek, ...
In this episode, we'll compare Nietzsche's view of causality, habit, and free will to Hume. Although, in substance, they make very similar arguments, we'll explore important differences. Nietzsche arrives at his critique of causality through his attack on free will, and the subsequent understanding of metaphysical beliefs as necessitated by moral beliefs - whereas for Hume, the issue of liberty versus necessity is secondary to the critique of reason's ability to derive necessary connexions. For ...
Today we're going to become Humean, All Too Humean. This is an introduction to David Hume's life and works, brief consideration of his influences, and deep dive into Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding - the work that woke Kant from his dogmatic slumber. In our analysis we discuss: Hume's 'two species of philosophy'; Hume's distinction between ideas & impressions, and between relations of ideas & matters of fact; his critique of causality; his explanation of habit, or custom as a 'gui...
Gnostic Informant on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@UCtdweFMJ5DGj7_q5IcpQhPQ Neal and I do a deep dive into the origins of the term "demon"/"demonic". What was the original meaning of the term "daimones" in Ancient Greece? How does the understanding of the term change, from the Hellenic to the Hellenistic to the Christian eras? We also discuss the imagery associated with the demonic, deriving from Pan, and discuss the anecdote from the ancient world, from which we get the phrase, "the Great G...
A conversation with Prof. Moeller (Carefree Wandering). We discuss the political implications of Daoist philosophy, the Daoist critique of Confucian family roles and anthropocentrism, the comparison to Nietzsche's critique of modernist theories of truth, the differences between the two regarding their respective past and future orientations in philosophy, the difference in "vibe", and the parallel between the two as focused on achieving "great health". Butcher Ding Story: https://www.youtube.com...
There was much ado about Spinoza, at least amongst the German rationalists and romantics. In this episode, we're going beyond the metaphysics to talk about the entire purpose of Spinoza's Ethics: the path to human freedom, in which a human being can become liberated from domination of the affects. The way to achieve this, according to Spinoza, is purely through understanding. No willpower or effort is needed: with knowledge alone, one can understand the necessity of all things, and connect the i...
In the conclusion to the daemonic series, we're looking at Stefan Zweig's Struggle with the Daemon - specifically, the section on Nietzsche. Particularly helpful for our analysis will be Zweig's comparison and contrast of Nietzsche with Goethe: both men contain the daemoniacal drive, but whereas Goethe holds it at a distance, Nietzsche gives himself over to it. By following Zweig's interpretation of Nietzsche's life and work, we can move from the abstract conception of it to a particular manifes...
In the second part of this series, we'll examine how it is that Goethe came to his conception of the Daemonic, involved as it is with Spinoza's pantheism. Goethe's introduction to Spinoza was largely through Herder, and his friendship with Herder he described as one of the most important in his entire life. We'll consider Herder's personality and some of the most important aspects of Herder's worldview, as well as the use of the term "daemonic" as Herder received it from his mentor, the "Magus o...
Part one of a series, this episode delves into Goethe's concept of the 'daemonic,' an invigorating life-force tied to Spinoza's pantheism. It traces the historical evolution of the word 'daimon' from ancient Greek protective spirits to its revaluation as 'evil' in Christianity, influenced by figures like Philo, Justin Martyr, and the persecutions under Constantine. The episode then examines the 18th-century 'Pantheism Controversy' in Germany, sparked by Lessing's alleged Spinozism and Jacobi's critique of reason, revealing a cultural clash between Enlightenment rationalism and emerging Romantic sentiment, which ultimately influenced figures like Nietzsche.
Today we're considering Ge Ling Shang's book, Liberation as Affirmation, comparing Zhuangzi and Nietzsche. Shang sees both thinkers as putting forward a "religiosity" of life-affirmation. Major points of comparison: use of language (goblet words/zhiyan & Dionysian dithyramb), whether one can relativize all views or should affirm illusion, how to respond to morality (revaluation v/s devaluation), using a single principle to describe multiplicity (ziran/dao & will to power), and the compet...
Exploring the indeterminate nature of truth in the Zhuangzi, the usefulness of uselessness, the foolishness of seeking office, and the advantages of xiaoyaoyou. Mixing translations from Watson, Palmer, Giles & informed by readings/commentary from Ziporyn, Ge Ling Shang & Wing Tsit Chan. For a general introduction to Spring and Autumn period Chinese philosophy, see the previous regular episode, #127.
I still live, I still think. I still have to live, for I still have to think. Sum ergo cogito, cogito ergo sum. Updates on the future of the podcast and plans for the New Year. Brief reflections on the past. Official announcement for my course at Acid Horizon Research Commons. Sign up here: https://www.acidhorizonpodcast.com/2026-classes/p/nietzsches-experiment-with-truth
CONTRIBUTORS:Andrei Georgescu (Artexius)Website: https://andreigeorgescu.ca/ Weltgeist Craig (Acid Horizon/Lepht Hand)Website: https://www.acidhorizonpodcast.com SIGN UP FOR MY CLASS ON NIETZSCHE (Limited Seating): https://www.acidhorizonpodcast.com/2026-classes/p/nietzsches-experiment-with-truthKarl Nord Neil (Gnostic Informant) PF Jung Tony (1Dime) Vivienne Mynaa Miesnowan
Introducing "dao" as a concept in Chinese philosophy. We'll explore the the social & historical context of the Spring and Autumn period. We'll follow A.C. Graham's assertion that the basic question of Chinese philosophy is "where is the way?", and consider the answers given by Confucius, Laozi, Mencius & Xunzi Sources: Wing Tsit Chan - A Sourcebook in Chinese Philosophy A.C. Graham - Disputers of the Tao Robin Wang - Yin Yang: The Way of Heaven and Earth in Chinese Thought and Culture Ge...
Goethe's novel, The Sorrows of Young Werther, was Napoleon Bonaparte's favorite novel. In recent years it has become the subject of memes, and the "sensitive young man" archetype. How are we to understand this puzzling development? What is the connection between the Caesarist strongman and the hopeless lover? In this episode, we'll consider the historical background of the work: its inspiration in the story of Karl Wilhelm Jerusalem, the "fever" that swept Europe following its publication, and i...
The first of a series of lectures examining Turchin's work in Ages of Discord, a structural-demographic analysis of American history. Topics in this episode - Imperiopathosis: the current situation, its underlying dynamics - Basics of secular cycles - Population-elites-state as fundamental factors - Political Stress Index (PSI) = Mass Mobilization Potential x Elite Mobilization Potential x State Fiscal Distress - Symptoms of political instability - Examining symptoms in a past "age of discord": ...
Delve into Schopenhauer's philosophy of history, where life is suffering and the world is mere representation, leading to concepts like antinatalism and asceticism. The discussion contrasts this with Hegel's universal history and Nietzsche's amor fati and the Übermensch, exploring whether meaning can be imposed on cyclical existence. It also touches upon Schopenhauer's complex views on suicide and the nature of rebirth.
My review of Kaag's book about Nietzsche, the Swiss Alps, and the many other philosophers who have spent time in Sils Maria. Overall a good experience, but more of a beginner read. John Kaag provides a relatively faithful analysis of Nietzsche's philosophy in his book, which will not contain many new insights for the advanced Nietzsche reader. There are some interesting parallels he provides between thinkers, however, and some more obscure anecdotes from Nietzsche's life discussed. The work is p...
The Will to Joy podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0iWF6YMMEriFZ0cE0xhnFN?si=e7ee705bb1814f89 Jimmy's linktree: https://linktr.ee/willtojoy Jimmy Burke just gave a presentation this past September at the Nietzschean Society, which met this year in Belfast. We discussed his lecture, entitled, "An Economy of Bodies", as well as his work in evidence-based behavior change. According to Burke, Nietzsche's insights have proven incredibly valuable in this field, and by drawing on Nietzsche's concep...
